-Caveat Lector- To be published Thursday, September 23, 1999 93 arrested in crackdown on Mexican drug cartel Associated Press ARLINGTON, Va. -- Ninety-three people have been arrested in a crackdown on one of the largest drug cartels in Mexico, federal law enforcement officials said today. Nearly $20 million in cash and $7 million in other assets were seized during the two-year investigation, dubbed ``Operation Impunity.'' The campaign was conducted by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Customs Bureau. Key to the success was apprehension of three alleged ``cell heads'' running the drug trafficking organization that remained after the death of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, officials said. He was known as the ``Lord of the Skies'' because of his use of large aircraft to move drugs. Carrillo was considered Mexico's No. 1 drug lord until he died in July 1997 while recovering from plastic surgery. ``The impact of Operation Impunity is significant. By targeting the cartel's importation, transportation and distribution network we have substantially hindered their ability to move cocaine and other drugs into and around this country,'' Attorney General Janet Reno said in a written statement. The three cell heads- Arturo Arredondo, Jesse Qanilla and Jorge Ontiveros-Rodriguez - directed the Carrillo cartel's operations in U.S. cities, according to the Justice Department. The department said Arredondo had overall responsibility for U.S. transportation and distribution of the organization's drugs, while Qanilla managed the cartel's distribution of Mexican cocaine in Chicago and Ontiveros-Rodriguez was responsible for operations in San Diego. In addition to cash and other assets, agents seized more than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine and 4,800 pounds of marijuana. U.S.-Mexican relations worsened in May 1998 after U.S. officials announced that a sting operation had snared some 160 people suspected of laundering drug profits, including two dozen Mexican bank executives who had been lured to the United States and arrested. The disclosure of the three-year probe known as ``Operation Casablanca'' provoked stern criticism by Mexican officials, who objected to the use of U.S. undercover agents in Mexico without the government's knowledge. U.S. law enforcement officials said they didn't notify Mexico because they feared endangering undercover agents. Mexico's anti-drug operations often are infiltrated by drug gangs. With sovereignty a touchy subject among Mexicans, politicians denounced the intrusion and threatened to suspend cooperation in anti-drug efforts. The Foreign Relations ministry filed a formal protest and said it could seek to extradite and prosecute the agents who had operated in Mexico without authorization. President Clinton expressed regret for not consulting with Mexican authorities and Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo pledged to continue anti-drug cooperation. � Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. http://www.startribune.com/stOnLine/cgi-bin/article?thisSlug=drug23 Bard DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
